Scotland vs. Japan: Shelley Kerr urges team to build on the positives

Scotland vs. Japan

• What: Fifa Women’s World Cup group D
• When: Friday 14 June
• Where: Roazhon Park, Rennes
• Kick-off time: 2pm BST
• TV coverage: BBC One and BBC ALBA

Scotland head coach Shelley Kerr has urged her side to build on their second-half display against England when they face Japan in Rennes on Friday.

The Scots lost 2-1 in their opening game of the Fifa Women’s World Cup and the clash against Japan is a must-win if they aim to progress into the knockout stages.

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Kerr said: “When you finish a game so strongly, you need to have a similar mindset and remember the positives. We need to concentrate on being better on the ball if we are to create chances.

“We've got the players capable of doing that and we’ve worked really well in training to put in place a gameplan we think can be successful.

“We want to get out of the group and to do that we need to win at least one game.”

Scotland will have their work cut out against Japan, who are ranked seventh in the world.

“Despite their unconvincing start, Japan’s technical ability will still pose Scotland problems,” says Alasdair Lamont of the BBC.

“If they are allowed to get their short, intricate passing moves together, they could find gaps in a back-line that looked less than assured against England.”

But Scotland could also learn from Argentina, who held Japan to a 0-0 draw in their opening game. Argentina play England on Friday night.

“The fine balance for Kerr is to be able to copy aspects of the Argentine tactics - they packed bodies behind the ball to deny Japan the space they normally thrive on - while allowing her own players to play to their strengths,” says The Herald.

This week’s Fifa Women’s World Cup fixtures

BBC Sport will show coverage of all World Cup matches:

• Friday 14 June: Japan vs. Scotland (2pm, BBC One and BBC ALBA); Jamaica vs. Italy (5pm, BBC red button and online); England vs. Argentina (8pm, BBC One)
• Saturday 15 June: Netherlands vs. Cameroon (2pm, BBC One); Canada vs. New Zealand (8pm, BBC red button and online)
• Sunday 16 June: Sweden vs. Thailand (2pm, BBC red button and online); USA vs. Chile (5pm, BBC Two)
• Monday 17 June: China vs. Spain (5pm, BBC online); South Africa vs Germany (5pm, BBC red button and online); Nigeria vs. France (8pm, BBC Four); South Korea vs. Norway (8pm, BBC red button and online)
• Tuesday 18 June: Jamaica vs. Australia (8pm, BBC red button and online); Italy vs. Brazil (8pm, BBC Four)
• Wednesday 19 June: Japan vs. England (8pm, BBC One); Scotland vs. Argentina (8pm, BBC Four and BBC ALBA)
• Thursday 20 June: Cameroon vs. New Zealand (5pm, BBC red button and online); Netherlands vs. Canada (5pm, BBC online); Sweden vs. USA (8pm, BBC Four); Thailand vs. Chile (8pm, BBC red button and online)
• See the full fixture list at fifa.com